Product News: New Ultra Compact 0.50ml Storage Tube from Micronic

26 Apr 2013

The Octygen 0.50ml screw cap tube available from Micronic sets a new standard for low temperature sample storage.

In low temperature storage facilities the cost of freezer space is an important cost of operation both in terms of the number of freezers required and electricity costs. The ultra-compact design of the Octygen tubes at just 25.6mm tall to deliver 475µl working volume uses only 60% of the space that competitive 0.50ml 96-well format screw cap tubes use to store the same volume. To further optimize use of valuable storage space - 96 individual 0.50ml Octygen tubes can be stored in an automation compatible rack. The unique design of the Octygen tube means that a Revco -80°C freezer can store 120,960 0.50ml Octygen tubes compared to only 80,640 0.50ml tubes of a competitive design.

Designed for both manual and automated low temperature storage applications the external thread design of Octygen tubes facilitates fast and simple sample handling. A super safe polypropylene cap / polypropylene tube seal in the rim of each Octygen tube minimizes diffusion of vapor during storage, even in dehumidified automation areas, thereby ensuring high sample integrity. To demonstrate the high sample integrity performance of the Octygen screw caps - Micronic performed two 4-week temperature tests at 21ºC (room temperature) and -80ºC (freezer temperature). The average weight loss at 21ºC during a 4-week period was only 0.0015 grams/week and at -80ºC no weight loss was detected.

Manufactured from high purity polypropylene in a controlled environment compliant with ISO 14644 and medical manufacturing standard ISO 13485 each Octygen tube is uniquely identified with a laser etched 2D Data-Matrix code that will never wear or fall off.